Associate pastor Alex Kendrick, right, sets up a shot with photography director Bob Scott. Courageous is the fourth faith-based movie produced by Sherwood Baptist Church.

Like Hollywood films, they take on real-life issues in dramatic packages:

•A resentful white cop and his black partner struggle with race and fatherhood before taking a lesson in reconciliation from Oscar winner Lou Gossett Jr. in a cameo role. That’s The Grace Card, underwritten by an optometrist for his small church in Tennessee.

•An aimless 20-year-old, adventuring with his buddies in India, discovers the global horror of sex slavery and makes it his life-changing cause. That’s Not Today, backed by a California Quaker church.

•Cops facing rough times on the streets realize their real failures are at home — as fathers who don’t know, or don’t care, how to truly love their kids. That’s Courageous, the fourth film from Sherwood Baptist Church, which is so successful in its moviemaking ministry that it now coaches others.

“Movies are the stained-glass windows of the 21st century, the place to tell the Gospel story to people who may not read a Bible,” says Michael Catt, senior pastor of Sherwood in Albany, Ga.

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Source: USA Today | Cathy Lynn Grossman

The production, written and produced by George W. Stewart, takes you into the lives of Abe and Sadie Jones and their longtime friend Fred Williams. Abe, a retired R&B singer is now living with Fred because Sadie has kicked him out of their home after forty years of marriage. The problem stems from Abe and Fred’s recent “experiment” with sexual enhancement drugs.

“Ain’t No Fool Like An Old Fool” addresses the challenges that senior citizens face as they grow older and deal with new and unsuspecting changes. Our primary focus of this urban socio drama is the impact of the sexual enhancement drugs and the increase of sexually transmitted diseases.

Last Psalm’s George W. Stewart shares, “This play will open our eyes to some very serious issues that have become silent killers in the lives of senior citizens, thereby affecting all of us.”

As we laugh at their encounters, we bemoan the tragic outcome that occurs in the play and too often in real life.

“Ain’t No Fool Like An Old Fool” has been presented in conjunction with The 100 Black Men, The Southern Christian Leadership Conference, Coahoma Community College, The Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. Also, planned are upcoming dates with The AME Church and The NAACP. The play is currently touring the country and also has a planned date in the Bahamas

George W. Stewart
P.O. Box 311214
205.798.4093
Birmingham, Al. 35231

lastpsalm@aol.com
www.lastpsalm.com

ABOUT THE GUEST The show’s first guest will be Bobby J. O’Neal better known all over the world as Dr. Love, from Vancouver, BC Canada and creator of a new board game for lovers (www.synchohearts.com).  The ladies will tear apart this new game while having some fun.  The show will also have features such as Hot Gospel, Church Funnies, Viewer Mail, Tough Topics, interesting and unusual guests, new artists, new authors, Fashion shows, cooking segments,  “what’s hot and what’s not about church, and of course the beautiful and popular co-hosts whose diverse backgrounds are a show segment all of its own.  You don’t want to miss this!

Another unusual show guest will be the multi-talented and multi-faceted,  Minister Gene D. Viale, who penned the book “I REMEMBER GOSPEL And I Keep On Singing”(www.geneviale.com) Gene Viale entered the gospel music consciousness in 1964 when James Cleveland overheard him singing Charles Watkins’ “Heartaches” in his trademark delicate-as-a-butterfly-wing tenor. Cleveland immediately found a spot for the young unknown in his Cleveland Singers and recorded Viale singing “Heartaches” with the full ensemble. Viale’s membership also gave the Cleveland Singers the distinction of being one of the first black gospel groups to integrate a Caucasian vocalist. He’s a phenomenal tenor and you will hear him sing at VIEW from the PEW Launch Party.

ABOUT THE PRODUCER View from the Pew is slated to be one of the nation’s most popular faith-based TV talk show in history to cross secular lines.  It will target fundamentally secular and religious audiences. The VIEW from the PEW TV show is sponsored in part by Rejoice Magazine, Gospel World News, and produced by Women-N-Power Ministries, www.womenNpower.com, a non-profit organization. The show’s Non-profit producer Women-N-Power Ministries founded in 2004, has maintained a consistent presence in the faith-based and secular communities with conferences, seminars, and informative activities. The Show will release thirteen half hour show a season and View from the Pew will be carried by major TV network affiliated stations including ABC, NBC, FOX, and My Network TV.  In domestic syndication the first season will reach an unprecedented US TV household coverage of over 30 – 100 million via domestic syndication and cable. The show is carried on major Christian Networks World Harvest Television and Atlanta Interfaith Broadcasters which can be viewed on cable carriers and Direct TV.

ABOUT THE HOST/CO-HOST

Inetta J. Cooper, (www.InettaJCooper.com) Columbia South Carolina Executive Producer of View from the Pew TV Show,  and Founder of Women-N-Power Ministries, Mother Wife, Author, Entrepreneur CEO of NPower Records and Gospel Entertainment, Publisher of NPower Online Magazine and CEO or WNP Advertising Agency;  Jolly Glover, (www.KingdomOrder.net)  Los Angeles California founder of Kingdom Builders Association and CEO of Kingdom Order.net. She is also the host of Christian Fellowship Connection, a radio program.  Coylette James, Las Vegas Nevada www.anointedevents.com, Minister, Author, Seminar Facilitator and Entrepreneur; D. Allen Woodside, Miami Florida, Graduate of Nova Southeastern University, Undergrad at Florida A&M, and wife  Val Scarbrough, Charlotte, NC Founder Of: “Diamond In Rough Women Ministry” A ministry speaking to the very depths of a woman and exposing “Taboo” subjects in the body of Christ, www.btwfministries.org;  Adrea Reavis, Atlanta GA, (www.naudre.com) 2010 Graduate of East Carolina, President of Naudre Agency , Commercial/ Print model who has worked with numerous cliental such as the Public Access Channel, National Billboards (Herman Hospital), J.C. Penny Catalogs, Hudson Belk, Cameron Village Library, and  Banana Republic runway shows. Lakeycia Jefferson, Jacksonville Florida www.TheInternationalPrayerNetwork Founder of International Prayer Network II, author, apostle, prophet, intercessor and entrepreneur. Samantha Dowdy, Charlotte NC, Pastor, Entrepreneur, Ministry Executive.  Lisa Hein, Parenting Author, Speaker and Radio Show Host, Mother and wife, (www.LisaRHein.com) Tamara Thomas Authors, Pastor, Teacher,  Founder of the Daughters of Zion Ministry, motivational seminars called “Tea Talk,” and owns Winning Choices Anger Management and Life Coaching www.faithcovenantfellowshipcenter.com

For more info on “VIEW from the PEW” log onto www.viewfromthepew.org, E-mail womenNpower@aol.com, or call 678-278-8441. Office location: 233 Mitchell St. SW Suite #350-N Atlanta GA 30303.  Make all tax deductible donations payable to Women-N-Power Ministries (a 501-C-3 Organization).

Review: I Can Do Bad All by Myself is what Tyler Perry is best at — a woman’s film that provides escapism from the harsh realities of life. In reality, a good song and church will not be enough to find a good man, but on the big screen it’s just enough to entertain. Regardless of how you feel about Perry, it’s pretty tough to knock his hustle (unless you’re Spike Lee of course); the man is making moves and employing Black actors.

Critics will still complain about melodramatic writing, soap opera-type scenarios and high moral codes. I Can Do Bad All by Myself is for a specific audience and not for the critics.

What really propels Perry’s latest flick is the excellent performances from Brian J. White, Adam Rodriguez and Hope Oladie Wilson. The cast is in the moment in every scene with chemistry and flair, even through implausible scenarios.

Of course there is Taraji P. Henson, who is the Mary J. Blige of film. The Oscar nominee isn’t afraid of a tear, scream or subtlety. It seems nearly impossible for Henson to make a bad movie.

Mary J. Blige is also a clear standout, playing Taraji’s best friend, Tanya. We all give singers the side eye when they venture into film, but Mary was a natural. Her words didn’t sound scripted and while music is clearly her first love, I think Mary has a good chance at being a bonafide actress.

Madea is always a pleasure. She is anti-church, gun toting and quick witted. In every Tyler Perry film, I always want to see more Madea. I look forward to a Perry film where the movie is solely about Madea and no other intertwining plots.

Overall, I Can Do Bad All by Myself serves its purpose to the audience it’s speaking to.

Source

As previously reported, the reality TV villain recently revealed her plans to enter seminary school after saying she has been hearing the calling for some time.

Ivan Hicks, the school’s associate dean for African-American studies, says Omarosa, a Youngstown, Ohio, native, has a heart for Christian ministry and has done work on behalf of the homeless and the poor in Haiti.

He says Omarosa’s reputation for both good and bad will help her as a minister, because people will relate to her, according to the Associated Press.

SOURCE: EUR Web

ChristianCinemaOnline encourages churches to participate in its faith-based family-friendly movies from early stage financing through distribution.

Churches can expand ministries that target families, women, singles and couples by developing Bible- based material around the content of ChristianCinemaOnline movies.

Churches that sell ChristianCinemaOnline movies through their Websites or bookstores will also profit by acting as distributors.

ChristianCinemaOnline is a motion picture studio that will produce Christian family-friendly comedies and dramas. The company is the creation of Jacque Edmonds Cofer, an award-winning television writer and producer, and her husband James Cofer, Jr. James has over 20 years of entrepreneurial experience and is an alumnus of Harvard Business School. Jacque is a graduate of Princeton University and Harvard Business School. She has written and produced many successful TV sitcoms over the past 15 years, including “Martin,” “Living Single,” “Moesha” and “All About the Andersons.”

Source: Everyday Christian

The fourth season of this series can be seen Wednesday nights this summer at 10 p.m. Eastern and Pacific times.

Williams joins Stellar Award winner J. Moss, and one of the music industry’s most respected executives, Mitchell Solarek. The show is co-hosted by Mike Kasem and Kimberly Locke, the first American Idol alumna to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard charts with a non-Idol single.

This season, contestants will be surprised by the addition of two major musical artists who will coach them during the season.

Thirty-seven contestants were selected from thousands of people, 16-40 years old, from all genres of gospel/Christian musical styles, who auditioned. From that group 10 finalists will be chosen to vie for the grand prize, which includes record and music video exposure.

Williams certainly understands the demands of a musical career, first as a member of the highly successful Destiny’s Child with Beyonce Knowles and Kelly Rowland, and then as a Grammy-winning solo artist with the success of her first Gospel album Heart To Yours, the best selling Gospel album of 2002.

Unexpected, Williams’ third solo studio album is also her first full length dance-pop project.  The album recently produced more No. 1 album solo honors in both Japan and Australia, and her recent single, “We Break The Dawn” reached the No. 1 spot on the US Billboard Hot Dance chart.

Williams also has found success on the stage, following runs in Broadway’s Aida and as Suge Avery in the touring production of The Color Purple. She is preparing for her debut in London in a run as Roxie Hart in a West End run of Chicago.

SOURCE: Black America Web

NEW YORK, June 4, 2009—Kirk Franklin, the biggest selling contemporary Christian artist in Soundscan history with more than 20 No. 1 singles and host of BET’s Sunday Best is teaming up with the American Bible Society to share the real inspiration behind his music. He is using both music and technology to encourage fans to connect with the Bible through “The Bible is My Guide,” a national program to motivate young people to engage with God’s Word.

Franklin, who Miley Cyrus calls her “favorite person to listen to in the shower” (Access Hollywood), will invite fans to send him text messages during his upcoming summer concerts. Through his partnership with the American Bible Society’s “The Bible is My Guide” project, fans who text message Franklin will receive daily Bible verses sent directly to their mobile phone free of charge. From the stage, Franklin will also encourage fans to read the book that provides the inspiration behind his greatest hits—the Bible.

“I’ve found the process of reading the Bible and writing a song is life-changing, and I’m always eager to share the inspiration behind my music. Being a part of the American Bible Society’s ‘Bible is My Guide’ project is a huge statement about the man I am trying to become,” said Franklin.

Thanks to technology, fans do not have to be present at Franklin’s concert to receive Bible verses. The American Bible Society also provides Bible verses via email, voicemail, text message, podcast and RSS feed free of charge to anyone who subscribes at Kirk.AmericanBible.org.

“Kirk’s music is inspiring a generation of music fans with the life changing message of the Bible,” said Lamar Vest, president and CEO of the American Bible Society.

Franklin is the third music artist to sign on for the “The Bible is My Guide” project. Kicked off in April 2007 by New York Yankee Mariano Rivera, the Spanish “La Biblia es mi Guia” project has also tapped celebrities such as the rock band Rojo, 10-time Grammy winner Juan Luis Guerra and New York Yankee Bernie Williams.

Franklin is not the only one sharing how the Bible’s message has changed his life. He has asked hundreds of youth ministers around the country to join him in encouraging youth to follow the principals of the Bible. Also, hundreds of personal videos can be found at ShareYourStoryNow.org—a site where people can post personal stories and see how others are exploring, engaging and experiencing the Bible’s message. The site also contains videos of other popular music artists who have shared their favorite verse or what the Bible means to them, including Grammy winners Steven Curtis Chapman, TobyMac, Rebecca St. James and former American Idol Mandisa.